Gravel
Tuscany
Gravel Tuscany
Ride the legendary strade bianche!
Famous for it’s hilltop towns, Chianti wine, cypress trees, great food and Italian style, Tuscany is also home to the strade bianche and some of the best gravel and Beyond Tarmac rides in Europe.
Overview
Details
Next Departure
October 8th 2023
From
USD $3,695
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Non-Rider Friendly
No
Rental Bike
USD $500
Ride Program
Total Distance
Total Elevation
Daily Av. Distance
Daily Av. Elevation
Overview
Tuscany with it’s legendary strade bianche is the perfect destination for a Thomson gravel trip.
Starting just outside Florence, you’ll ride through the best of Tuscany following many of the white gravel routes made famous by the Eroica and the annual Strade Bianche professional race. Discover the magical medieval towns of Volterra and San Gimignano and ride through Montalcino, home of the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine. Ride through the classic Chianti and Vernaccia vineyards and the Crete Senesi with its quintessential Tuscan landscapes of rolling hills and lines of cypress trees leading to hilltop farms.
Join us in this gravel paradise for an unforgettable experience and some of the best Beyond Tarmac riding Europe has to offer!
Video
Get a glimpse of what to expect in our short film following the Thomson ride leaders on our reconnaissance trip through Tuscany
Trip Technical Difficulty
Ride Surfaces
Bike Setup Recommendations
Recommended Tires
700×34
A minimum 700×34, but feel free to use more rubber for more comfort and grip if your bike has extra tire clearance.
Recommended Gearing
38T × 11-42
We recommend a minimum gear ratio of 0.90 using a 38T chainring × 42 rear cog (or equivalent). Check your gear ratios at www.bikecalc.com/gear_ratios.
Gravel Explained
Read below for a brief description of our gravel definitions. We have classed the surfaces into five categories, from tarmac to boulders, to give an indication of the amount and level of rough stuff on each trip.
Geoff Jones, USA — 2022
Larry Kaufman, USA — 2022
Michael Baumgaertner, USA — 2022
Itinerary
| Day | Description | Distance | Elevation | Hotel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Benvenuti in Toscana | Country Hotel Borgo Sant’Ippolito | |||
| 02 | The hill-top town of Volterra | Albergo Villa Nencini | |||
| 03 | Into Chianti | Relais Vignale & Spa | |||
| 04 | In the tire tracks of L'Eroica | PALAZZO DEL CAPITANO | |||
| 05 | Strade Bianche terrain | Laticastelli Relais & Spa | |||
| 06 | More Eroica & Strade Bianche | Relais Vignale & Spa | |||
| 07 | Ciao! | ||||
| Daily Averages |
Itinerary Detail
Day 1
Distance
Elevation
Benvenuti in Toscana
Your trip starts at Florence Airport where our staff will meet you before the transfer to your hotel in Montelupo Fiorentino, by the Turbone river.
After a brief orientation meeting, bike build-up and lunch we’ll head out for a short warm-up ride in the hills around.
Day 2
Distance
Elevation
The hill-top town of Volterra
Our journey across Tuscany starts today with a magnificent ride to the medieval, hill-top town of Volterra. Leaving the Turbone area, we head deep into the heart of Tuscany, through the picturesque town of Montespertoli and into the rolling Vernaccia vineyards that surround the famous medieval towers of San Gimignano. From San Gimignano we head through the Castelvecchio natural reserve to the River Era where you’ll see the medieval walls of Volterra perched high on the hill above you.
Tip: keep your legs fresh for the last climb up to Volterra, it’s a steep one with grades of 10-12% in sections.
Day 3
Distance
Elevation
Into Chianti
Leaving Volterra we head for San Gimignano where we join a wonderful gravel section with the best views of this magical Tuscan town. The ride continues into the famous Chianti vineyards and the start of the famous L’Eroica course and the routes of the Strade Bianche professional race.
Tip: A good trick here would be to start the day with some extra pressure on your tires to ride on the initial section of pavement and then drop a few PSI around San Gimignano for the second part of the stage. Ask our ride leaders for help if needed!
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Map & Profile
Surface Details
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Dates & Prices
| Date | Booking Status | Availability | Price / Per Person | Single Supplement | Non-rider Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||||||
|
Book this tripClosed
|
May 21 - 27 |
Closed |
Places Available |
USD $3,695
|
USD $650 |
USD $690 |
Book this trip |
Oct 8 - 14 |
Taking Bookings |
Places Available |
USD $3,695
|
USD $650 |
USD $690 |
Book this trip | |
Waiting List
Sign up to the waiting list for this departure, to be notified if a space becomes available. Please fill out the information below:
Trip Hotels
What's Included
| What's Included | What's Not Included |
|---|---|
Accommodations & Meals
 Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
|
| What's Included |
|---|
Accommodations & Meals
Transportation
Cycling Support
Nutrition during the ride
|
| What's Not Included |
|
Pick-up/Drop-off Info
Arrival
| Pickup Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Florence Airport |
9:00am |
OR |
|
|
Hotel Palazzo Castri 1874 |
9:00am |
Departure
| Drop Off Location | Time |
|---|---|
|
Florence Airport |
9:00am |
Rental Bikes
Frame
Felt Breed 20
Groupset
SRAM Force 1
Weight
9.35kg (size 54)
Wheels
Devox Wheels RDS.A0 GXA | 30/21
Chainrings
36 or 38 (depending on trip)
Cassette
11-42
Sizes
47, 51, 54, 56, 58
Price
USD $500
Gravel Tuscany
Tuscany beyond tarmac, inspired by the Eroica and Strade Bianche courses, the perfect mix.
